RED BLUFF — Students at Metteer Elementary School gathered Wednesday at the annual Veterans Day celebration to honor veterans and say thank you to local men and women who served.

The ceremony began with students saying the Pledge of Allegiance and signing the Star Spangled Banner. Hope Wilson started translating the ceremony into sign language 10 years ago when she attended Metteer and assisted Wednesday in leading the students. The Tehama County Young Marines posted the colors.

Retired Senior Chief Rob Burroughs, who served in the Seabees and did two combat tours in Fallujah during his 23 years with the Navy, spoke to the students about his family’s history in the military. He had relative who served in the Civil War and his grandfather grew up in Weaverville and served in World War I.

Burroughs’ father was a gunners mate in the South Pacific during World War II, his brother served during the Vietnam War, he served during Dessert Storm and his son, who joined the Marine Corps, served in the Operation Iraqi Freedom era.

Asked why Veterans Day is so important to him and his family, Burroughs said it honors those who served their country, some of whom sacrificed their lives.

Technology has changed a lot in the last 100 years since the soldiers of World War I fought, Burroughs said. Changes include not only high tech gadgets, but air conditioning, running water, toilets and electricity becoming widespread.

“When my grandpa joined at 17 and was assigned to the 103 Aero Squadron, he traveled from Weaverville to New Jersey by train,” Burroughs said. “He took a passenger ship, which had 2,000 people on it to cross the ocean. It was a cruise ship that was turned into a transport ship.”

Crossing was not without its perils, as German submarines attacked the ships and sank the one his grandfather was on near Scotland.

While his grandfather survived after being picked out of ocean water that averages 35 degrees, there were about 400 who perished, Burroughs said. A torpedo hit in the middle of the ship and destroyed several lifeboats.

Burroughs reminded the students when they look at pictures in the history books to remember that those pictured are people from a community just like his grandfather. Many served in combat and returned home. Those who may not have visible scars may still have emotional wounds that they carry inside.

“It’s so important to say thank you,” Burroughs said. “Sometimes a simple thank you is all you need to do. Not just on Veterans Day, but anytime you see a veteran.”

A presentation was made to Bob Chaney, of the Tehama County Military Family Support Group, of boxes of items and letters from students to be shipped overseas to troops for Christmas.

Tom Threlkeld led the students in several patriotic songs, including the Armed Forces Service Medley. Veterans were asked to stand when the hymn for their branch was performed.

Roger Marsh, a representative from the Red Bluff post of the American Legion, performed the Table of the Unreturned Soldier ceremony. He talked about the terms Prisoner of War and Missing in Action, noting that 72,000 remain unrecovered from the World War II era, another 7,000 from the Korean War era and about 1,600 from the Vietnam era.

The event concluded with veterans forming a receiving line and students stopping to thank them for their service to the country.

Julie Zeeb is a North State native and covers the county and education beats for the Red Bluff Daily News. She has been with the Daily News since she started freelancing for the paper in July 2007 and lived in Tehama County since 2009.